Pear Eating 2013
Deacon Brian Evans
On Thursday the 20th September, the Merry Masons met for the last social event of the year under the Chairmanship of Deacon Brian Evans. The Pear Eating is a relaxed evening of dining on pies, sausage rolls
and sandwiches and goes back to time immemorial.
Brian has had a great year as Deacon, representing the Incorporation at numerous events and leading them with his jovial smile and happy, unassuming rigour.
Brian has enjoyed his year and made many friends and the highlight of his year has been working closely with a number of Colleges to the benefit of their students.
James Hamilton Smith (aka Jimmy the Pie), our most senior Deacon, aged 91 years, related the origins of the origins of the Pear Eating to a rapt audience.
Brian has had a great year as Deacon, representing the Incorporation at numerous events and leading them with his jovial smile and happy, unassuming rigour.
Brian has enjoyed his year and made many friends and the highlight of his year has been working closely with a number of Colleges to the benefit of their students.
James Hamilton Smith (aka Jimmy the Pie), our most senior Deacon, aged 91 years, related the origins of the origins of the Pear Eating to a rapt audience.
Besir Bryce with his Blairlogie Raspberry Jam
Another tradition at the Pear Eating is that the Late Collector who hopes to be elected next morning to the highest position in his craft has to sing the Besir Song, supply a big Besir Cake and to provide copious drinks in the Steps Bar after the Pear Eating for all and sundry. This year the Besir declared an inability to sing and bribed all present with a pot of Besir Bryce's Blairlogie Raspeberry Jam so that they would forgive him for reciting the words rather than singing them. The Besir also supplied Besir Bryce's Blairlogie Rowan Jelly for any of the gentlemen present who may not have had their own teeth.
The Besir cake was devoured as the sweet to the meal and much fun was made of the error in communications evident on the cake. Rather than placing the Incorporation's crest in the centre of the cake, the bakers had written the words "Big Crest"
The Besir cake was devoured as the sweet to the meal and much fun was made of the error in communications evident on the cake. Rather than placing the Incorporation's crest in the centre of the cake, the bakers had written the words "Big Crest"
The singing during the evening was led by Ian Macpherson who sang a number of songs and led the communal singing. Allan Kitchen was the excellent pianist who accompanied Ian. To hear an example of Ian Macpherson's singing, please click on the video below.
Speeches and toasts were made to the New Laid Stane Ronnie Knox, who gave an excellent response and to the Collector nominate David Bannerman who also showed that he was more than up to the job of being the Collector and in a few years time, taking over as Deacon.
Tom Monteith, clerk to the Incorporation continued the tradition of composing and reciting a very humorous poem to Deacon Brian Evans which reflected his personality and year.
At the end of the evening Past Deacon James Hamilton Smith closed the meeting in the traditional manner by "Rapping the Shed". To see Jimmy Rapping the Shed and explaining the tradition behind the Rapping of the Shed, please CLICK HERE.
Tom Monteith, clerk to the Incorporation continued the tradition of composing and reciting a very humorous poem to Deacon Brian Evans which reflected his personality and year.
At the end of the evening Past Deacon James Hamilton Smith closed the meeting in the traditional manner by "Rapping the Shed". To see Jimmy Rapping the Shed and explaining the tradition behind the Rapping of the Shed, please CLICK HERE.
